Scottish Executive

Crown Estates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any (a) powers and (b) plans to give financial relief to fish farms in respect of rents charged by the Crown Estates Commissioners and what information it has received on any such charges collected in other countries for the purposes of assessing their impact on the fish farming industry in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no powers and, therefore, no plans to give financial relief to fish farms, in respect of rents charged by the Crown Estates.

  The fish farming industry has described the effect that the rents have on their competitiveness, in comparison with other salmon-producing countries. However, this is a matter for the Crown Estate and the industry to take account of, in their rent reviews. In the course of the development of our aquaculture strategy, we are considering the future competitiveness of the industry.

Doctors

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors have been employed by the NHS in each NHS board area in each year since the publication of the New Deal for Junior Doctors in Scotland.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 20163).

Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to Her Majesty’s Government on Scotland being given full fiscal autonomy.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not, and does not, plan to make representation to the UK Government on this matter.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many long-term patients there are broken down by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) ailment and/or diagnosis and (d) health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the total number of patients ready for discharge, by health board area of treatment and selected age group is shown in the following table. Information on the gender, and on the specific ailment and/or diagnosis of patients ready for discharge, is not held centrally. The information shown is based on the number of patients who had waited over six weeks (i.e. the common local discharge planning period) at the 15 January 2002 census, the latest date for which information is held centrally.

  





Age Groups 
  



NHS Board area of treatment 
  

Total 
  

0-64 
  

65-74 
  

75-79 
  

80-84 
  

85-89 
  

90+ 
  





























Scotland 
  

2,075 
  

288 
  

303 
  

333 
  

408 
  

431 
  

312 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

352 
  

44 
  

58 
  

52 
  

61 
  

83 
  

54 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

189 
  

6 
  

29 
  

30 
  

50 
  

37 
  

37 
  



Borders 
  

36 
  

3 
  

3 
  

9 
  

6 
  

8 
  

7 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

25 
  

- 
  

4 
  

4 
  

6 
  

7 
  

4 
  



Fife 
  

117 
  

11 
  

13 
  

19 
  

26 
  

30 
  

18 
  



Forth Valley 
  

135 
  

21 
  

16 
  

26 
  

23 
  

25 
  

24 
  



Grampian 
  

238 
  

33 
  

28 
  

38 
  

49 
  

48 
  

42 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

295 
  

53 
  

50 
  

42 
  

59 
  

58 
  

33 
  



Highland 
  

86 
  

9 
  

16 
  

13 
  

24 
  

9 
  

15 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

137 
  

34 
  

17 
  

22 
  

24 
  

25 
  

15 
  



Lothian 
  

291 
  

46 
  

44 
  

53 
  

51 
  

60 
  

37 
  



Orkney 
  

10 
  

1 
  

2 
  

- 
  

- 
  

5 
  

2 
  



Tayside 
  

140 
  

25 
  

22 
  

20 
  

26 
  

28 
  

19 
  



Western Isles 
  

24 
  

2 
  

1 
  

5 
  

3 
  

8 
  

5

Health

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will present proposals for the provision of portable liquid oxygen that may be prescribed by GPs.

Malcolm Chisholm: I will make an announcement on this issue in due course.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of any increase in the quality of life resulting from effective foot health care provision to (a) children, (b) elderly people and (c) other adults in the last (i) five years and (ii) 10 years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not conducted a survey of the research in this area. The outcomes of research of this nature will be reported in the professional literature. Chiropody and podiatry services are part of the range of services provided by Primary Care NHS trusts. It is for local NHS management to ensure that the provision of services is, where possible evidence based, and in accordance with good professional practice to secure improvements in health.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the need for chiropody and podiatry services.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not conducted a survey of the research in this area. The outcomes of research of this nature will be reported in the professional literature. Chiropody and podiatry services are part of the range of services provided by Primary Care NHS Trusts. It is for the NHS locally to make an assessment of the needs of the local population.

Justice

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many press releases it has issued in each of the last 12 months about issues concerning the judiciary.

Mr Jim Wallace: We do not keep records of the number of press releases issued on particular topics. The total number of press releases issued in the categories "Law and Order" and "Justice" in that period was 213. A full archive of these press releases can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/search.aspx?d=last

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning will reply to my letter of 30 January 2002 regarding my constituent Mr D Thomson of Macduff.

Lewis Macdonald: A reply to your letter was issued on 26 March 2002.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much profit has been made from the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock in each year since the prison was opened.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This is a matter for Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice was informed of the purchase by Group 4 of a half-share in Premier Security Group’s parent company Wackenhut Corporation.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  In accordance with the requirements of the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited, KPSL advised SPS of the proposed purchase by Group 4 Falck of the Wackenhut Corporation.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are to the contract between it and Premier Prison Services in respect of HM Prison Kilmarnock of the purchase by Group 4 of shares in Premier Security Group’s parent company Wackenhut Corporation.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS is currently in discussion with Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited to assess the implications, if any, of the proposed purchase by Group 4 Falck of the Wackenhut Corporation, one of the parent companies of Premier Custodial Group.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been approved to perform custodial duties in accordance with section 114 and Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each calendar month from January 1999 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is given in the following table:

 March 1999   168 April 1999   25 June 1999   26 July 1999   1 August 1999   12 December 1999   22 January 2000   1 March 2000   15 May 2000   1 July 2000   1 August 2000   16 October 2000   1 November 2000   11 December 2000   4 January 2001   7 April 2001   9 May 2001   11 July 2001   13 September 2001   9 February 2002   3 March 2002   5"

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people currently have a valid and current certificate to perform custodial duties in accordance with section 114 and Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  196 as at 19 March 2002.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people held a valid and current certificate to perform custodial duties in accordance with section 114 and Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each calendar month from January 1999 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Such information is not readily available. The number as at 19 March 2002 was that 196 people held a valid and current Prisoner Custody Officer certificate.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people had a certificate to perform custodial duties suspended in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each calendar month from January 1999 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is given in the following table:

 April 1999   1 September 1999   3 February 2000   1 June 2000   1 January 2002   2

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people had a certificate to perform custodial duties revoked in accordance with paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each calendar month from January 1999 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is given in the following table:

 December 1999   2 June 2000   1 August 2000   1 October 2001   1 January 2002   2

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences were committed under paragraph 5 of Schedule 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each calendar month from January 1999 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I am aware of no offences.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish an open prison for women.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service is currently evaluating the need to provide an open facility for women.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 March 2002, when the buildings at former HM Prison Penninghame were first placed on the open market and where the sale was advertised.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The buildings at the former HM Prison Penninghame were placed for sale on the open market on 24 February 2000. The sale was advertised in The Herald and The Scotsman.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 March 2002, whether the sale of buildings at former HM Prison Penninghame was re-advertised after the buildings were first placed on the market and, if so, where it was re-advertised.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes. It was re-advertised in the Estates Gazette.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 March 2002, what closing date for offers in respect of the sale of buildings at former HM Prison Penninghame was advertised at the time of the buildings first being placed on the open market.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No closing date was advertised at the time of the buildings at former HM Prison Penninghame being placed on the open market.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any refugees and asylum seekers remain in prisons run by the Scottish Prison Service and, if so, how many and in which establishments they are being held.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As at 2 April 2002 there were no persons awaiting deportation held by the Scottish Prison Service.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when any (a) compulsory purchase orders and (b) parliamentary consents in respect of the proposed Milngavie to Larkhall line will expire and what action it plans to take on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The British Railways Order Confirmation Act 1994 and the British Railways (No.3) Order Confirmation Act 1994 conferred powers on the British Railways Board, in respect of the proposed Larkhall-Milngavie rail link. The expiry of powers to make compulsory purchase orders is now a matter for Railtrack. However, I understand that the overall parliamentary powers expire in March 2004.

  The Scottish Executive is in contact with Railtrack, the Strategic Rail Authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive about moving this project forward.

Roads

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend trunk road status to the A83 from Kennacraig to Campbeltown.

Lewis Macdonald: The last review of the trunk road network was launched in October 1994, with the consultation paper Local Government Reform: Shaping the Trunk Road Network . This made a number of proposals geared to provide the road user with a coherent, logical and recognisable trunk road network. The review did not propose extending trunk status to the A83 Kennacraig to Campbeltown. The Executive currently has no plans to revisit this decision.

Sexual Abuse

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to adult male survivors of childhood abuse.

Malcolm Chisholm: The support referred to in the answer to question S1W-23416 is for all survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Mental health and community care services provided to, amongst others, survivors of childhood sexual abuse are provided regardless of gender.

Young Offenders

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how information on juveniles who persistently reoffend is tracked and held.

Cathy Jamieson: A record of the number of children and young people who are under 16, and some 16- and 17-year olds, who are referred to children’s hearings on offence grounds is held by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA). SCRA’s IT system is currently being enhanced and improvements will include the ability to hold information that tracks persistent offenders. The Scottish Criminal Record Office maintains a criminal history database which contains details of persons convicted of offences through the Scottish criminal justice system.